Coffee Break: United Way campaign tops $25 million goal

United Way of the Mid-South's annual campaign has topped a $25 million goal as late contributions continue to trickle in, the agency reported.

During a campaign celebration and annual meeting Feb. 28 at The Peabody, officials said the total stood at $25.1 million and was expected to increase in coming weeks as organizations wrapped up campaign efforts. They said some campaigns started later than usual.

The previous campaign raised $25,834,821.

"Raising this much while the strength of our national and local economy is still very uncertain is a significant accomplishment. (General campaign chairman) Joe DiNicolantonio, his campaign cabinet team and the volunteers and staff he's leading are to be congratulated for their outstanding work and this strong total," said Bryce Haugsdahl, president of United Way of the Mid-South.

The casinos will promote the drawings March 29 in front of FedExForum. Illusionist Rob Lake will make it seem that an armored truck appears out of thin air. The drawings will take place at 9 p.m. each Saturday starting April 6.

Memphis jobless rate increases

The Memphis-area jobless rate rose slightly to 9.7 percent in February, up from 9.6 percent in January.

Unemployment in the Arkansas portion of the Memphis area dropped from 13.3 percent to 11.8 percent.

The Mississippi portion stayed the same, at 8.5 percent unemployment.

U of M Law School one of top 150

U.S. News and World Report rates the University of Memphis School of Law as one of the top 150 law schools in the nation.

The school ranks No. 144 on the annual list released this week.

"We are thrilled to be recognized by U.S. News on its list of the top law schools in the nation," Interim Dean William P. Kratzke said in a prepared statement. "This is yet another example of the high quality of education that we strive to provide at Memphis Law.''

The new ranking reflects Memphis Law's bar passage rate, employment statistics, student to faculty ratio, LSAT scores and average expenditures per student. The law school placed in the top 20 for the bar passage rate of its students.

The magazine ranked other law schools in the region, including Vanderbilt at No. 15, University of Tennessee Knoxville at No. 61, University of Arkansas at No. 68, University of Mississippi at No. 102, and University of Arkansas-Little Rock at No. 113.